According to transporthint, Kaliningrad (formerly Konigsberg) (Russian: Калининград) forms an exclave of Russia, located on the Baltic Sea (Europe). Kaliningrad borders Poland and Lithuania. The capital of Kaliningrad is the eponymous Kaliningrad. A number of major cities in Kaliningrad are: Chernyakhovsk,Sovietsk, Baltiysk, Gusev and Svetly.
Kaliningrad is a piece of Russia in Europe. Despite the distance between Kaliningrad and Russia, it is immediately clear that you are in Russia. You need a Russian visa and everything one encounters is Russian. Kaliningrad is best known for its capital, the eponymous Kaliningrad. This city is located on the Baltic Sea and is an important port in this sea. There are many churches and monuments in Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is also known for its favorable tax rules and for one of the oldest zoos in Russia (Kaliningrad Zoo).
Where is Kaliningrad located?
Travel information of Kaliningrad
Official name: Kaliningrad Oblast
Continent: Europe
Area: 15,100 km²
Capital: Kaliningrad
Country code: RU, RUS
Population: 437,456 inhabitants (2012)
Form of government: Exclusive of Russia
Highest point: 230 m (Kalinka hill)
Distance (Amsterdam – Kaliningrad): 1,064 km
Flight time: approximately 3 hours
Travel advice
Current status: All non-essential travel to Kaliningrad is discouraged.
A detailed explanation of this travel advice can be found on The Netherlands worldwide.
Corona
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), there may be (temporary) measures in Kaliningrad that you as a tourist may have to deal with. For the most up-to-date corona travel advice, please refer to our special coronavirus travel advice page. For the number of current corona infections, number of deaths and various corona-related graphs of Kaliningrad, please visit Countryaah.
Travel offer
On our travel offer page you will find an overview of reliable travel organizations that offer complete trips and holidays to Kaliningrad. In addition, you will find an overview of separate travel components (car rental, hotels and airline tickets) with which you can compose your ideal trip yourself.
Travel guides and maps
Are you looking for a travel guide, map, hiking map, cycling map, book or DVD about Kaliningrad?
Excursions, activities and day trips
With the help of Countryaah you can reserve an excursion, activity, guided tour, entrance ticket and/or day trip for your stay in Kaliningrad at a discount. This way you are assured of a place, in some cases you can skip the queue and you can already plan your travel program.
Weather and climate
Kaliningrad has a continental climate. During the summer months, temperatures are around 20 degrees. During the winter months, temperatures are around 0 to 5 degrees. During the winter months there is a lot of snowfall.
The current weather (weather forecast) and a weather forecast for Kaliningrad can be found on our extensive weather page.
Detailed information about the climate of Kaliningrad can be found at Climate info.
Best time
June, July and August are the best months to travel to Kaliningrad. In these months you have the best chance of pleasant temperatures.
Language
Russian is the official language in Kaliningrad.
Would you like to translate from or into Russian for free? Use the Google translator for this.
Travel documents
You must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon departure from Kaliningrad.
A visa is required. You can apply for this in person at the Russian Visa Center in Rotterdam or The Hague, after completing the visa form on Visa.kdmid.ru (valid for 30 days).
You can use a 72-hour visa upon arrival at the international airport and at various border crossings with Poland. You can request this online at Konigsberg.ru.
Embassies and consulates
Below is an overview of relevant diplomatic representations, including addresses and contact details.
Netherlands Embassy in Russia (also for Kaliningrad):
netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Russian Embassy and Consulates in the Netherlands: rijksoverheid.nl.
For urgent assistance, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 on +31247247247.
Vaccination (inoculation)
You do not need any vaccinations for a visit to Kaliningrad.
Money and Currency
In Kaliningrad you pay with the Russian ruble (RUB).
The current position of this currency (currency, currency) can be found on our exchange rate page.
An overview of all ATMs in Kaliningrad can be found on our ATMs page.
Price level
The prices in Kaliningrad are a lot lower than in the Netherlands. The price difference with the Netherlands is -41% on average. Some examples are: restaurants (46% cheaper), food (39% cheaper), imported beer in catering (45% cheaper), cigarettes (74% cheaper) and public transport (83% cheaper). Please note that the price difference in tourist areas, especially during high season, may vary.
Tipping
In Kaliningrad it is not a matter of course to tip. Sometimes service costs are already included in the bill. If this has not already been done, it is increasingly customary to give a tip, especially in the capital Kaliningrad. Good service is about 10% tip.
Time difference
During our summer time there is no time difference in Kaliningrad.
During our winter time it is 1 hour later in Kaliningrad.
Kaliningrad has no difference between winter time and summer time.
The local time, date and time zone for Kaliningrad can be found on our time difference page.
Traffic and route
In Kaliningrad you have to drive on the right.
To drive and/or rent a motor vehicle in Kaliningrad, you must have an international driver’s license or a legalized Russian translation of the Dutch driver’s license. The international driver’s license is available at an ANWB shop.
With the Google route planner you can compile a route description from, to or within Kaliningrad.
Electricity
In Kaliningrad the same plugs and sockets are used as in the Netherlands.
More information about electricity in Kaliningrad can be found on our electricity page (look under Russia).
Emergency services
If you need help from the police, fire brigade and/or ambulance in an emergency, you can use the emergency numbers below.
– Police: 02
– Fire: 01
– Ambulance: 03
Tap water
It is not recommended to drink water from the tap. The quality differs per area.
If you are unable to buy bottled water, use a water purifier to purify the water or boil the water for 5 minutes. After this you can safely use it as drinking water and for things like brushing teeth, cleaning lenses and washing vegetables and / or fruit. More information about drinking water and/or the purchase of water purification products can be found on our drinking water page.
News and newspapers
The latest news related to Kaliningrad can be found on Google news.
An overview of the newspapers from Kaliningrad can be found on Abyznewslinks (under: “Kaliningradskaya Oblast – Kaliningrad Oblast”).
Internet
Websites from Kaliningrad end in.ru.
Kaliningrad official website: gov39.ru.
Russian traffic bureau: russischverkeersburo.nl.
Telephony
The country code (international access code) to call someone in Kaliningrad is 007 or +7.
If you want to call the Netherlands from Kaliningrad, dial 8 (wait for dial tone) 1031.
(If you use a country code, leave out the first 0 of the number to be called.)
Phone numbers can be found in the Kaliningrad Telephone Directory.
Company details can be found in the Kaliningrad Yellow Pages.
Photos and videos
On Flickr you will find a nice collection of photos of Kaliningrad.
On Youtube you will find a nice collection of videos from Kaliningrad.
Public holidays
An overview of all public holidays in Kaliningrad can be found on Beleven.org.
Reviews and travel experiences
On Zoover and TripAdvisor you will find reviews from travelers about accommodations (eg hotels and holiday homes), restaurants and destinations in Kaliningrad, supplemented with photos, videos and places of interest.
Travelogues
Are you looking for a travelogue about Kaliningrad?
Here you will find travel reports and experiences of travelers who have previously visited Kaliningrad. It is also possible to keep a free diary of your trip for family and/or friends.
Nature and World Heritage
An overview of the protected nature areas (including national parks, reserves and wildlife parks) in Kaliningrad can be found on Protected Planet.
Kaliningrad is not on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Customs rules
Do you want to know how much you are allowed to import and export when traveling to Kaliningrad? On the IATA website you will find an overview with the maximum quantities of cigarettes, alcohol and money, among other things. If you stick to these quantities, you don’t have to declare anything to customs. In addition, on this website you will find the laws and regulations regarding the importation of pets and a list of everything that may not be imported and/or exported from Kaliningrad.
Entrepreneurship and doing business
If you intend to do business in or do business with Kaliningrad, it is wise to prepare well. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency can help you with this. On PaulSourcing.com you will find a large amount of information about Kaliningrad, including: opportunities, import and export rules, trade figures, do’s and don’ts, product requirements, current sanctions, business partners and subsidies.
Relevant legislation
Below you will find relevant legislation and regulations that you may encounter during your visit to Kaliningrad.
– Alcohol: Buy from the age of 16, drink at all ages.
– Alcohol and traffic: Maximum allowed alcohol content is 0.
– Tobacco: Buying and/or smoking from the age of 18.
– Smoking ban: In public places.
– Homosexuality: Not allowed. Imprisonment and/or fine.
Did you know that…
…Kaliningrad is only 4.8 meters above sea level?
…Kaliningrad is the westernmost part of Russia?
…Many shops in the center of Kaliningrad are open 24 hours a day?
…Kaliningrad used to be a castle of knights of the Teutonic Order?
…Kaliningrad only bears the name Kaliningrad (formerly Koningsbergen) since 1946?
